2023 Archives

Jan 9

Classes Begin

Monday, January 9, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Spring Semester classes begin.

Jan 16

Holiday - University Closed

Monday, January 16, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Holiday - University Closed

Jan 20

Triple G Colloquium| Cities, governance, and migration: sorting out the contradictions | Dr. Michael Samers

Friday, January 20, 2023 4:00 PM at Virtual

Join us for our first Triple G Colloquium event for the Spring Semester as we welcome Dr. Michael Samers from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Samers will present "Cities, governance, and migration: sorting out the contradictions."

Jan 27

QUIDDERS Talk: The Dynamics of Great Lakes Beach-Ridge Formation and Implications for Paleo-environmental Assessment of a Migrating Strandplain, SW Lake Michigan

Friday, January 27, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Quaternary Landscapes Research Group (QLRG) on Friday, January 27, at 4:00 PM, as Robin Mattheus of the Illinois State Geological Survey presents "The Dynamics of Great Lakes Beach-Ridge Formation and Implications for Paleo-environmental Assessment of a Migrating Strandplain, SW Lake Michigan."

Feb 10

QUIDDERS Talk: The Geography and Progression of Blowouts in the Coastal Dunes along the Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan, Since 1938

Friday, February 10, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Quaternary Landscapes Research Group (QLRG) on Friday, February 10, at 4:00 PM, as Alan Arbogast of the MSU Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences presents "The Geography and Progression of Blowouts in the Coastal Dunes along the Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan, Since 1938."

Feb 23

Oral Comprehensive Exam Notice: Chris Baish

Thursday, February 23, 2023 12:30 PM at Virtual

Chris Baish will take his oral comprehensive examination on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 12:30 PM via Zoom.

Mar 6

Spring Break - No Classes

Monday, March 6, 2023 - Friday, March 10, 2023 at Michigan State University

Spring Break - No Classes

Mar 13

Oral Comprehensive Examination Notice: Raven Mitchell

Monday, March 13, 2023 12:00 PM - Monday, March 13, 2023 3:00 PM at GEO, RM 105

Raven Mitchell will take her oral comprehensive examination on Monday, March 13, 2023, from 12:00-3:00 PM in GEO, Rm. 105.

Mar 14

Geography Club Meeting

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 6:00 PM at GEO Building, Rm 105

Join the MSU Geography Club for their next meeting on Tuesday, March 14, at 6:00 PM in Rm. 105 in the Geography Building.

Mar 17

CANCELED: QUIDDERS Talk: Glacial Landforms, Sediments, and Deglacial History of Breiðamerkurjökull, Iceland: A Modern Analog for the Lake Michigan Lobe, in Western Lower Michigan (By Zoom)

Friday, March 17, 2023 4:00 PM at Zoom

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED.

Mar 21

MSU Geography Club Chipotle Fundraiser

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 4:00 PM - Tuesday, March 21, 2023 8:00 PM at Chipotle, 539 E Grand River Ave, East Lansing 48823

Come out to Chipotle in East Lansing on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 4-8 PM and support the MSU Geography Club!

Mar 25

MSU Geography Reception at the 2023 AAG Annual Meeting

Saturday, March 25, 2023 7:00 PM - Saturday, March 25, 2023 10:00 PM at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

Attending the 2023 AAG Annual Meeting in Denver? Join the MSU Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Science for a reception at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 7-10 PM.

Mar 31

2023 Geography Career Day and Job Fair

Friday, March 31, 2023 2:30 PM - Friday, March 31, 2023 4:30 PM at Geography Building 673 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48824

The 2023 Geography Career Day and Job Fair will take place on Friday, March 31, 2023, from 2:30-4:30 PM. This event will take place in the Geography Building located at 673 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Mar 31

Triple G Colloquium| Forecasting Ecology in a Changing World

Friday, March 31, 2023 4:00 PM at Virtual

Join the Geography Graduate Group (Triple-G) for "Forecasting Ecology in a Changing World" with Dr. Michael Dietze from the Department of Earth & Environment at Boston University.

Apr 3

The geopolitics of spectacle: Space, synecdoche, and the new capitals of Asia

Monday, April 3, 2023 at Hybrid: Zoom or College of Business, N105

Dr. Natalie Koch, professor of Geography at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will present "The geopolitics of spectacle: Space, synecdoche, and the new capitals of Asia" on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 2:10 PM in Room N105 in the College of Business. There will also be a Zoom option.

Apr 4

Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia

Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at Hybrid: Zoom or College of Business, N100

Dr. Natalie Koch, professor of Geography at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will present "Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia" on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 1:00 PM in Room N100 in the College of Business. There will also be a Zoom option.

Apr 4

MSU Geography Club Meeting

Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at Wells Hall | Room TBD

Join the MSU Geography Club on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 6 PM.

Apr 6

Spring 2023 SWIG Speaker Event

Thursday, April 6, 2023 9:00 AM - Thursday, April 6, 2023 11:00 AM at Geography Building, Rm. 105

Please join us for a discussion with Drs. Olson and Winkler about all things geography and women in science. Undergrads, Graduate Students, and Faculty from all departments are all welcome to attend. Breakfast beverages and snacks will be provided.

Apr 7

Discovering Uzbekistan: The Intersection of Science, Research, and Travel

Friday, April 7, 2023 12:00 PM - Friday, April 7, 2023 1:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Dr. Ilhom Aslanov, a visiting professor from TIIAME National Research University in Uzbekistan, will present "Discovering Uzbekistan: The Intersection of Science, Research, and Travel." Join us for this Brownbag lunch event.

Apr 13

When does increasing built environment amenities benefit health? | Gina Lovasi

Thursday, April 13, 2023 3:30 PM at Hybrid: Zoom and In-Person at Interdisciplinary Science & Technology Building (ISTB), 1st Floor 766 Service Rd

Gina S. Lovasi, PhD, MPH, Dornsife Associate Professor of Urban Health and Associate Dean for Education at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, will present "When does increasing built environment amenities benefit health?" on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 3:30 PM.

Apr 14

Oral Comprehensive Examination Notice: Karine Torosyan

Friday, April 14, 2023 at Hybrid - Zoom and GEO 126

Karine Torosyan will take her oral comprehensive examination on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 12 PM.

Apr 14

QUIDDERS Talk: Dating Erratics in the Great Lakes: Success with 10Be on Isle Royale and Challenges with Schmidt Hammer Dating in Wisconsin

Friday, April 14, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Quaternary Landscapes Research Group (QLRG) on Friday, April 14, at 4:00 PM, as Eric Portenga from the Eastern Michigan University Geography and Geology Department presents "Success with 10Be on Isle Royale and Challenges with Schmidt Hammer Dating in Wisconsin."

Apr 21

GEO-GTU Annual Spring Reception

Friday, April 21, 2023 3:00 PM - Friday, April 21, 2023 4:30 PM at Ag Hall Atrium in Morrill Hall, 446 W. Circle Drive

Join the Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences for our annual GEO-GTU Spring Reception as we celebrate our outstanding Spartan Geographers!

Apr 27

Proposal Dissertation Notice: Chris Baish

Thursday, April 27, 2023 10:30 AM at GEO RM 105 or Teams

Chris Baish will defend his dissertation proposal, “The role of iron and clay in translocation processes: implications for argillic horizon genesis and degradation in texture contrast soils of Michigan,” on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 10:30 AM in GEO Rm. 105 or via Teams.

Apr 28

Thesis Defense Notice: Clayton Sigmann

Friday, April 28, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm. 120 and Zoom

Clayton Sigmann will defend his thesis “Perceptions of Climate Risk and Efforts to Adapt to Climate Change: Tourism Industries of the Northwestern Region of Michigan USA,” on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 4 PM.

Apr 30

Classes End

Sunday, April 30, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Classes End

May 1

Final Exams

Monday, May 1, 2023 12:00 AM - Friday, May 5, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Final Exams

May 2

Dissertation Defense Notice: Gabriela Shirkey

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at Hybrid: GEO Rm 105 or Zoom

Gabriela Shirkey will defend her dissertation, “Spatiotemporal changes in carbon and anthropogenic contributions in an agricultural-forest watershed,” on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 1:00 PM.

May 4

Dissertation Proposal Defense: Raven Mitchell

Thursday, May 4, 2023 9:00 AM at Geography Building, Rm. 105

Raven Mitchell will defend her doctoral dissertation proposal, “Periglacial Facies and Altitudinal Trends in Alaska and the Appalachian Highlands,” on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 9:00 AM.

May 5

Commencements

Friday, May 5, 2023 12:00 AM - Sunday, May 7, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Commencements

May 18

Dissertation Defense Notice: Donald Akanga

Thursday, May 18, 2023 1:00 PM at Virtual

Donald Akanga will defend his dissertation, "Interconnections between land cover change, climate variability, and livelihoods in the Greater Mau Forest Complex, Kenya," on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 1:00 PM.

Aug 2

Thesis Defense Notice: Nathaniel Penrod

Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:00 AM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Nathaniel Penrod will defend his master's thesis "Multidecadal trends in nearshore sediment transport and morphodynamics along the eastern coast of Lake Michigan: Implications for beach recovery following high lake levels," on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at 10:00 AM.

Aug 28

Classes Begin

Monday, August 28, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Classes Begin

Sep 4

Holiday - University Closed

Monday, September 4, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Holiday - University Closed

Sep 5

MSU GeoClub Meeting

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 6:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

MSU GeoClub is holding its meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 6:00 PM.

Sep 8

3rd Annual MSU GEO Alumni Golf Outing

Friday, September 8, 2023 8:30 AM at Wheatfield Valley Golf Course

The MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences Alumni Advisory Board will be hosting its third annual golf outing at Wheatfield Valley Golf Course in Williamston. The event is set to take place on Friday, September 8, 2023, beginning at 8:30 AM.

Sep 15

Triple G Colloquium | Near Woods: A new book about an old and familiar place | Dr. Kevin Patrick

Friday, September 15, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building 673 Auditorium Road, Room 126, East Lansing, MI 48824

Join the MSU Geography Graduate Group (Triple G) as they welcome Professor Kevin Patrick for a discussion of his book "Near Woods; A Year in an Allegheny Forest."

Sep 19

MSU Geography Club Meeting

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 6:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

The MSU GeoClub will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 6:00 PM.

Sep 22

MSU Homecoming Parade

Friday, September 22, 2023 6:00 PM at Downtown East Lansing and MSU Campus

The annual Homecoming Parade hosted by the MSU Alumni Office is scheduled for Sept. 22, beginning at 6 p.m. in downtown East Lansing and the MSU campus.

Sep 30

Harm de Blij Scholar Award Deadline | 09-30-23

Saturday, September 30, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Instituted in 2013 by Harm de Blij and supported by other major donors to award scholarships to promising incoming students who choose to major in Geography at Michigan State University. de Blij Scholars will be awarded $1000 each Fall/Spring semester that they are a primary major in one of the Department’s degree programs. Deadline for the 2023 Fall Semester is 9/30/23 at 11:59 PM ET.

Oct 10

MSU Geography Club Fundraiser | Raising Cane's | 10-10-23 | 5-10 PM

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 5:00 PM - Tuesday, October 10, 2023 10:00 PM at Raising Cane's 301 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823

The MSU Geography Club is raising funds with Raising Cane’s! Save the date and show a little love for this awesome RSO! #MSUGeography #MSUSocialScience

Oct 11

Arts, Culture, & Urban Sustainability in Rome 2024 Information Session

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 5:00 PM - Wednesday, October 11, 2023 6:30 PM at International Center, Rm. 201

The first Informational Meeting for all students enrolled and interested in the Arts, Culture and Urban Sustainability in Rome2024 program will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, in 201 International Center.

Oct 13

NASA LCLUC Webinar: "Where are the missing burned areas? Global hotspots of burned area - a multiresolution analysis" | David Roy

Friday, October 13, 2023 11:00 AM at Virtual

Join the NASA LCLUC for their Fall Webinar Series featuring Dr. David Roy (Michigan State University) presenting "Where are the missing burned areas? Global hotspots of burned area - a multiresolution analysis."

Oct 17

Geography Club Meeting

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 6:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Geography Club for pumpkin painting!

Oct 18

Mid-term, Mid-week, Mid-day Stress Relief

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 3:00 PM at GEO Building South Lawn or 1st Floor Lounge (weather dependent)

Mid-terms can be a stressful time. We invite you to take a break, have some fun, and de-stress with cider, donuts, games, and more! We’ll also be handing out free t-shirts to our MSU Geography community members!

Oct 20

Triple G Colloquium | Smoke Forecasting | Dr. Joseph Charney

Friday, October 20, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Geography Graduate Group as they welcome Dr. Joseph Charney for a presentation entitled "Smoke Forecasting: Spring/Summer 2023 and Beyond."

Oct 23

Fall Break - No Classes

Monday, October 23, 2023 12:00 AM - Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Fall Break - No Classes

Oct 24

Dissertation Defense Notice: Herve Kashongwe

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 1:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 105 (In-person only)

Herve Kashongwe will defend his dissertation "Remote sensing assessment of tropical forest canopy height, aboveground biomass, and regrowth in Mai Ndombe province, Democratic Republic of the Congo," on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 1:00 PM.

Oct 27

ESPP Distinguished Lecture Series: Dr. Jay Lund

Friday, October 27, 2023 12:00 PM at Lincoln Room, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

Dr. Jay Lund from UC Davis will give the invited plenary at the Fall Student Research Symposium as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series and Civil & Environmental Seminar Series.

Nov 3

QUIDDERS Talk: Filling the Gaps: Coastal and Benthic Mapping with SfM and Machine Learning

Friday, November 3, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Quaternary Landscapes Research Group (QLRG) on Friday, November 3, 2023, at 4:00 PM, as Phil Wernette of the USGS presents "Filling the Gaps: Coastal and Benthic Mapping with SfM and Machine Learning."

Nov 8

4th Annual Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) GIS Conference

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 12:00 AM at Virtual

Save the date for the 4th Annual Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) GIS Conference.

Nov 10

QUIDDERS Talk: Can disturbance syndromes help better predict forest structure and function?

Friday, November 10, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Quaternary Landscapes Research Group (QLRG) on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 4:00 PM, as Adriana Uscanga from MSU Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences and the Ecology, Evolution & Behavior Program presents "Can disturbance syndromes help better predict forest structure and function?"

Nov 13

Geography Awareness Week Events | November 13-17

Monday, November 13, 2023 12:00 AM - Friday, November 17, 2023 12:00 AM at

Mark your calendar and plan to join us during the 36th Annual Geography Awareness Week.

Nov 13

Pack the Porch for the 2023 MSU GEO Family Photo

Monday, November 13, 2023 3:00 PM at Front Porch of the GEO Building

Kick off Geography Awareness Week by joining us as we pack the porch of the Geography Building for our 2023 MSU GEO Family Photo!

Nov 14

Spotlighting Geography at MSU

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 12:00 PM - Tuesday, November 14, 2023 2:00 PM at MSU Union

Stop by the MSU Union and help us celebrate Geography Awareness Week. Members of the MSU Geography Graduate Group (Triple G) will be on hand to shine a spotlight on Geography and the MSU Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences.

Nov 14

Triple G Geography Awareness Week Trivia Night

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 5:00 PM - Tuesday, November 14, 2023 9:00 PM at HopCat, 300 Grove St, East Lansing, MI 48823

Join the Geography Graduate Group (Triple G) for an evening of geography-related trivia, a 50/50 raffle, and other festivities in honor of Geography Awareness Week!

Nov 14

MSU Geography Club Trivia Scavenger Hunt

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 6:00 PM at GEO Building

Save the date and plan to join the MSU Geography Club as they celebrate Geography Awareness Week with a fun and challenging Geography Trivia Scavenger Hunt

Nov 15

MSU GIS Day

Wednesday, November 15, 2023 9:30 AM - Wednesday, November 15, 2023 3:30 PM at MSU Main Library

The MSU GIS Day Conference is an all-day event held in the MSU Main Library on November 15th hosted by the MSUGIS Users Group. We welcome anyone with an interest in GIS from across MSU and the community to join us for a day of talks and discussion.

Nov 16

Celebrating Geography Awareness Week: Rescuing the Rougarou-Preserving culture in a changing climate

Thursday, November 16, 2023 7:00 PM - Thursday, November 16, 2023 8:30 PM at MSU Business College Complex, 632 Bogue Street, Rm N130, East Lansing, MI 48824

Mark your calendar and plan to join the Michigan State University Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the MSU Business College Complex during the 36th Annual Geography Awareness Week for "Rescuing the Rougarou: Preserving culture in a changing climate."

Nov 17

Triple G Colloquium | Dr. Gretchen Keppel-Aleks

Friday, November 17, 2023 3:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Please save the date for the final Triple G Colloquium of the fall semester when the MSU Geography Graduate Group welcomes Dr. Gretchen Keppel-Aleks.

Nov 17

Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Notice: Ana Rivera Rivera

Friday, November 17, 2023 3:00 PM at Virtual

Ana Rivera-Rivera will defend her dissertation, "Urban Heat Islands in Santa Clara, California: A Human-Environment Interaction Study," on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.

Nov 20

Thesis Defense Notice: Qianlin Chen

Monday, November 20, 2023 8:00 AM at Virtual

Qianlin Chen will defend his master’s thesis, “A Critical Analysis of Hainan’s Urban Resilience in the Context of COVID-19,” on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 8 a.m.

Nov 23

Holiday - University Closed

Thursday, November 23, 2023 12:00 AM - Friday, November 24, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Holiday - University Closed

Dec 1

QUIDDERS Talk: Can Great Lakes coastal wetlands reveal evidence of old flood events? A paleotempestological investigation of Magee Marsh, Northwest Ohio

Friday, December 1, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Quaternary Landscapes Research Group (QLRG) on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 4:00 PM, as Thomas Bianchette of Oakland University presents "Can Great Lakes coastal wetlands reveal evidence of old flood events? A paleotempestological investigation of Magee Marsh, Northwest Ohio."

Dec 4

Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Notice: Teng Zhang

Monday, December 4, 2023 10:00 AM at In-person Room 105 Geography Bldg. or via Zoom Meeting

Teng Zhang will defend his dissertation, "Unsafe Space: Spatial Analysis of the Indonesian Mass Killings in East Java," on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

Dec 5

Oral Comprehensive Exam Notice: Xin Lan

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 3:00 PM at Virtual or GEO Building, Rm. 105

A Comprehensive Oral Exam is scheduled for Xin Lan on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. (ET).

Dec 8

Classes End

Friday, December 8, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Classes End

Dec 8

QUIDDERS Talk: Marvelous marl: An investigation of limnic Histosols in Michigan

Friday, December 8, 2023 4:00 PM at Geography Building, Rm 126

Join the Quaternary Landscapes Research Group (QLRG) on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 4:00 PM, as Barret Wessel with MSU Plant, Crop and Microbial Sciences presents "Marvelous marl: An investigation of limnic Histosols in Michigan."

Dec 11

Final Exams

Monday, December 11, 2023 12:00 AM - Friday, December 15, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Final Exams

Dec 12

Uzbekistan unveiled: A journey through tourism, academic prowess, and agriculture

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 12:00 PM at GEO Rm. 126

Take a lunch break on Tuesday, December 12, to enjoy a presentation by grad student Sarvar Khamidjonov. 

Dec 15

Commencements

Friday, December 15, 2023 12:00 AM - Saturday, December 16, 2023 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Commencements

Dec 25

Holiday - University Closed

Monday, December 25, 2023 12:00 AM - Tuesday, January 2, 2024 12:00 AM at Michigan State University

Holiday - University Closed